The Tale of Genji

I really enjoyed reading the chapter selections from The Tale of Genji because through this work, I felt like I was given a pretty accurate account of what life was really like for the aristocracy of Japan at this time.  In previous readings, like Gilgamesh or the Ramayana, many descriptions of the characters were exaggerated, and the heroes were often portrayed as godlike.  This is not the case in the two chapters that we read from The Tale of Genji.  The first chapter that we read is a long, detailed dialogue between Genji, his friend, and two other gentleman during which they discuss what each likes and does not like in a woman and also recount some of their previous exploits.  Being able to hear each gentleman’s stories and opinions, I am given great insight into the how the aristocracy of Japan at this time truly behaved.  The men used their status to satisfy their lust for women, which they did many times over with many different women.  Women, for the most part, stayed and home by themselves and tended to the children and home, while their husbands were out with other wives and mistresses.  It doesn’t appear that the author worries about having her characters adhere to a moral code as we have seen many times in previous works we have read.  Instead, she seems to be more focused on providing and accurate, realistic account of life in the Japanese aristocracy and the way men and women of the time interacted with one another.